Hello friends, grab
your Bible and a friend
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and sit back as
we explore God's word
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together on this
edition of House Calls.
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Friends, welcome to
one of the most exciting
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programs in the world
because we use the Bible,
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don't you agree John?
I agree. I, and we are so
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glad that you chosen
to tune in to join us,
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sit back, don't
rush, hit the record button
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because this is not a
program you want to miss.
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And we're always
excited when you choose to
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tune in, invite your
friends and family and
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just sit back for God
to walk you through the
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experience of
understanding and learning
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His word, but I
am not by myself,
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John Stanton is here.
Good to have you John.
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It's good to be here
John and another program,
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one that we have
never done before.
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That's right. The
topic that I don't know why.
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Right. Do we forget
in our relationship,
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do we forget to do
one on relationships?
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You know people
have been sending emails
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about
relationships and marriages and
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all kinds of
controversy in relationships.
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So I think it's
time that we do on our
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relationships but. I
agree. Let's pray first.
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Let's start with
prayer. Okay. Father in heaven,
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we're so glad to be
able to have a relationship
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with our creator,
and we thank you so much
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for you have never
left us alone to ourselves
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but you have
saved us, redeemed us,
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and so Lord we come to
you knowing that is a fact
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but also in our
relationship wanting to
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draw closer, and so
Father, draw us closer
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to you as we open your
word and send your spirit
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Lord so that you may
teach us how to know you
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better, in Jesus
name, amen. Amen and friends
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you also know that
Bible questions is a huge part
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of this program, thank
you for being faithful.
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Some of you are so
faithful; you send huge
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books through the
internet. I don't know
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how it makes it here
but it gets in and it's our
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job to filter through
those things that we can
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answer on that and on
those things we cannot
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and John is very faithful
in going on the Internet.
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I peek every now and
then but keep sending those
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questions because
they do make a difference
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in our programs. If
you have any to send today,
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send them to housecalls@3abn.org
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that's housecalls@3abn.org.
We will go to the
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Internet which
links the world together,
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download it and
bring to the program and
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answer your Bible
questions, so John what
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do we have today?
Well we've got a great
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question, actually
it's two questions.
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I wanna read parts
of them both. Alright.
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Because they talk about
a similar thing and also
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I believe something that
is becoming more and more.
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Oh! I don't know what
do you call it, disgust.
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It's a discussion
point, more and more within
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the church and so
are we both of them
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you can kind of see
both perspectives and then
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we'll talk a little
bit about it here. Alright.
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This opening
one here's from Art.
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Thank you Art for
sending in this question,
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he says I like
your interpretation of
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the Bible, we
appreciate that Art, and on the
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program, about heaven
and punishment I noticed
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you carefully used
words concerning the
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second death. You said
in effect that each one
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would be punished
at different degrees.
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No where did you
say the punishment was
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burning to death.
Praise the Lord. I can find no
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text or place in the
spirit of prophecy writings
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that says people
will burn to death.
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Degrees of
punishment is understood by me
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but being tortured
by God just is beyond
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my imagination. Okay
that's one perspective that's.
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Well I am
holding back right now.
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You hold back. Okay.
Alright, here's the next
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one and this one is
from Ricky. He says here,
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let's see I am
watching part of your program on
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the 27th, was a
little unsure about what you
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guys were saying.
There were something said
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about that there is
no place that unsaved
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people will go, in
other words there is no place
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emphasizing there
is a, you know there is
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this idea that hell as
a place not in condition.
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Like underground. Yeah,
so anyway we were saying
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that and he says that
there will be no torment
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or pain in hell which
I believe to be untrue.
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The Bible says whosoever
is not in the book of life
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will be cast into the
lake of fire and brimstone.
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Right. And that they
will be burned. So now we
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see both parts, so some
say there is no burning.
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Actual burning or
torment going on. Others say
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well absolutely
there is because that's the
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finale of everything
and so this discussion
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has come up more
and more I have seen in
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my own ministry.
Maybe you've seen this
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question pop up from
time to time, does God burn
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sinners to
administer the punishment in the
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last days
through the lake of fire.
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Now we've had discussions
before about the fact
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that hell is not a
place, hell is a condition,
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hell is a shorten term
for hell fire which is the
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lake of fire that
comes down out of heaven
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but there is no place
hell right now that is,
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that is burning the
people are living and
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writhing in pain
and so forth and so on
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but that's not
the question we're
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answering here today.
But the question would be
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then what scripture
is there any evidence of
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as to what happens
in the last days with
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regard to the lake
of fire. What does it
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accomplishing, what does it do?
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Is it actually burning
people, it's a symbolic,
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is it not. Would a
loving God actually
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destroy sinners.
These are some things and
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maybe just throw
some text back and forth
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may be you and I John
here. To answer or get
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some enlightenment
here on this subject.
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The first one I wanna
start with, let's go to
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the Old Testament
first. Okay, let's go to there.
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And in these last
days you know, we know that
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that the lake of
fire is gonna come down
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out of heaven. We read that from
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Revelation
chapter 20. Well you mean
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the lake of fire is
gonna be produced from
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fire that comes
down from heaven.
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From fire that
comes out of heaven right,
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the whole lake
isn't coming down the fire
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creates the lake. But
this text we want to go
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to is found in
Malachi. Let's got to
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Malachi chapter 4. That's right.
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And what Psalm was
this because it is the
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same description
of the same event.
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So we might as
well, will look at it
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in the Old Testament
here first Malachi 4 verse 1
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and of course. First of
all you read the rest of
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Malachi leading up
to this is talking about
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the rewards of
those who are righteous,
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the rewards of the
wicked. Clearly a delineation
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between both, then
we get to 4 verse 1
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where it says for
behold the day is coming
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burning like an
oven. Now first of all the
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first thing I take
from this is that not only
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it will fire be
kindred but it will be hot,
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physically hot. There won't be,
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it's not the
symbolic thing about well
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it look like fire,
well it may, it may you know
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to someone's view
or picture of what
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the lake of fire
looks like. It looks like
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something is on fire
and the lake is kindled
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with fire but no
this is hot. That's right.
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Like an oven it says
and it says, it goes on
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verse 1 and all the
proud, yes all who do wickedly
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will be stubble and the
day which is coming shall
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burn them up. So this
fire that is hot turns
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them into stubble
which is consumed material
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and it shall burn
them up, says Lord of host
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that will leave them
neither root nor branch.
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Clearly the scripture
John it said telling us
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that the fire that
does come down out of heaven
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that creates the lake
of fire is intended to
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burn up, to consume
those who remain the wicked.
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That's right. And so
that's the first part.
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Okay. That's the
first one we have to start
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that the Bible is not
just symbolic in Revelation 20,
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it is literal in
saying that a fire is hot and
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will consume and burn
and destroy the wicked.
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Now that doesn't
answer what's going on in the
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minds of the wicked
in hearts of wicked all
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those kinds of
things but it does tell us
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there is a literalness
to a hot fire being kindled.
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That's right and you
know what's so strange
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about this question is
when you look at the Bible.
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The Bible doesn't
leave this question in a
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vague context, it
answers it very specifically.
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The lake of fire when
you think of the lake of
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fire and the Bible
says in Revelation all those
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who are not
written in the book of life
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will be cast
into the lake of fire.
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If you're cast
into a lake of fire,
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what will happen to
you? Anything cast into fire
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burns, not just singes
or just goes up in flames
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before it gets
there but there would be
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degrees of torment.
The Bible makes it very,
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very clear, Matthew
talks about weeping and
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gnashing of teeth.
So when you think of the
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end or the finally of
the wicked there are few
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texts I would
like to point you to.
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Go with me to Psalms.
Before you go your first
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one though let me just
say one last quick thing
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on this verse we
just talked about it,
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it just pulled it up
and I've got to see this.
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When it says it
shall burn them up. Right.
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The word is lahat
in Hebrew. That word is
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translated as to
set on fire. Oh! Yeah.
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So when it says burn
them the wicked up it
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means to set them
one fire. Ignition.
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It's an ignition, it's
a point of they are set on
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fire, so I want to
just say that because
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that's I think it's a
key issue and then the Bible
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also uses the word
consume, if you look at
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Psalms 37, go there with us.
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Psalms 37 and verse 20
the Bible makes it very
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clear what consume
is all about. Psalms 37,
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here I am and verse
28. And John I have my
00:09:25.30\00:09:28.75
travel Bible with me
today, you know because
00:09:28.76\00:09:31.97
when you travel on the
aero plane, smaller plane
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it looks to, no
not a smaller plane
00:09:34.91\00:09:35.88
but large plane
for travel Bible.
00:09:35.89\00:09:37.33
When you travel on
the air plane they'll only
00:09:37.89\00:09:39.51
allow you
certain amount of weight
00:09:39.52\00:09:40.49
you can't carry
that King James version
00:09:40.50\00:09:42.48
with wheels, you got
to carry the smaller one.
00:09:42.49\00:09:44.92
Anyway and it
says Psalms 37 verse 20
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but the wicked shall
perish, people say great,
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that's true and the
enemies of the Lord like
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the splendor of the
meadows shall vanish,
00:10:01.08\00:10:03.96
into smoke they
shall vanish away or the
00:10:04.67\00:10:08.92
King James version or
the King James version
00:10:08.93\00:10:10.83
says into smoke
shall they consumed away.
00:10:10.84\00:10:13.99
When something
is consumed it has a
00:10:14.00\00:10:15.96
begining point and it
also has an ending point.
00:10:15.97\00:10:19.01
When you light a
paper on fire it starts,
00:10:19.48\00:10:22.11
eventually its
consumed that's what the whole,
00:10:22.55\00:10:25.14
the whole word
consume means a process the
00:10:25.15\00:10:28.45
starting of the
fire, the consummation,
00:10:28.46\00:10:31.52
or the consuming of
the material and then the
00:10:31.53\00:10:34.30
last part of it into
smoke it's consumed away.
00:10:34.31\00:10:36.74
So when the Bible
talks about the wicked shall
00:10:37.17\00:10:39.51
vanish into smoke
shall they consume away.
00:10:39.52\00:10:41.81
You clearly see and
then John in Revelation,
00:10:42.51\00:10:45.18
let's go to
Revelation chapter 14
00:10:45.19\00:10:46.75
this is the text.
I've got that one down.
00:10:46.76\00:10:49.47
You want to go there,
why don't you go there
00:10:49.48\00:10:50.99
Revelation chapter
14. When you talk about
00:10:51.59\00:10:54.13
the fate of the
wicked it talks about torment
00:10:55.17\00:10:57.80
and the smoke of
their torment ascends up.
00:10:57.81\00:11:00.62
Right. And when John
sees the entire world
00:11:00.63\00:11:03.14
it looks like
something that just never ends.
00:11:03.15\00:11:05.21
This is the end of the
third angel's message to
00:11:05.22\00:11:07.32
warning them about
the mark the beast.
00:11:07.33\00:11:08.73
Okay. For those who
receive that and it says
00:11:08.74\00:11:11.56
in verse 10,
let's start with 10.
00:11:11.57\00:11:17.03
He himself shall also
drink of the wine of the
00:11:17.65\00:11:19.25
wrath of God, which is
poured out full strength
00:11:19.26\00:11:21.48
into the cup of his indignation.
00:11:21.49\00:11:22.91
He shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone
00:11:23.48\00:11:26.76
in the presence of
holy angels and in the
00:11:27.18\00:11:29.17
presence of the lamb
and the smoke of their
00:11:29.18\00:11:31.72
torment ascends
forever and ever and they have
00:11:31.73\00:11:34.75
no rest day or night
who worship the beast his
00:11:34.76\00:11:37.49
image, whoever
receives the mark of his name.
00:11:37.50\00:11:40.88
Right, so clearly
once again smoke, fire,
00:11:40.89\00:11:43.88
fire coming down, this
lake of fire represents
00:11:44.33\00:11:47.43
the world on fire.
When the Lord reigns down
00:11:47.44\00:11:50.56
the fire, I mean you
look at the example of
00:11:50.57\00:11:52.86
Sodom and Gomorrah. The
Bible says they suffered
00:11:52.87\00:11:55.41
the vengeance of
eternal fire, you see.
00:11:55.42\00:11:58.31
So that fire
that was poured out on
00:11:58.72\00:12:00.92
Sodom and
Gomorrah, everything that it
00:12:00.93\00:12:03.07
burned up was
eternally destroyed and if you
00:12:03.08\00:12:06.03
look at the example
in the book of Genesis.
00:12:06.04\00:12:08.00
I think it's
Genesis chapter 6 or
00:12:08.01\00:12:09.34
Genesis Chapte 8 when
the Lord sent judgment,
00:12:09.35\00:12:12.78
he sent it without
it wasn't a flicker.
00:12:13.21\00:12:16.32
It was the
consuming fire of God, also
00:12:16.70\00:12:19.58
the city of
Jerusalem when they refused to
00:12:19.59\00:12:22.07
honor the Sabbath.
The Lord sent fire down
00:12:22.08\00:12:24.38
on the city of Jerusalem
and burned it up and so
00:12:24.39\00:12:27.51
clearly when the Bible
talks about this and then
00:12:27.52\00:12:30.12
in the book of First
Peter talks about a fire that
00:12:30.13\00:12:32.88
the earth is going to
be dissolved being on fire
00:12:32.89\00:12:36.09
and it says also the
earth and the works that
00:12:36.54\00:12:39.75
are there in shall be burned up.
00:12:39.76\00:12:41.98
And the works include
all those who perpetrate
00:12:42.55\00:12:44.87
these works, but one
of the most convincing
00:12:44.88\00:12:47.48
scriptures I found
though about fire actually
00:12:47.49\00:12:50.53
existing and what
it's going to do is when it
00:12:50.54\00:12:53.17
refers to Satan a Lucifer.
00:12:53.18\00:12:55.15
Ezekiel 28, Ezekiel 28
and verse 16, we will read
00:12:56.32\00:13:02.07
verse 14, verse 16
and verse 18 because
00:13:02.08\00:13:05.02
the Lord makes it
very, very clear, you see
00:13:05.03\00:13:06.97
at one point Lucifer
walked back and forth
00:13:06.98\00:13:09.24
in the midst of
the stones of fire,
00:13:09.62\00:13:12.62
in the presence of God
and he wasn't consumed,
00:13:12.63\00:13:14.76
but notice what's
going to happen after
00:13:15.72\00:13:17.19
he is a fallen
angel. Ezekiel 28 verse 14
00:13:17.20\00:13:20.30
and I am reading from
the King James Version.
00:13:20.86\00:13:22.37
Thou art the
anointed cherub that covereth;
00:13:22.38\00:13:25.91
that's about Lucifer
and I have set thee so:
00:13:26.41\00:13:29.47
thou was upon the
holy mountain of God;
00:13:29.86\00:13:31.72
thou has walked up
and down in the midst of
00:13:32.13\00:13:34.43
the stones of fire.
And when it talks about
00:13:34.44\00:13:37.19
the stones of fire
in the presence of God.
00:13:37.20\00:13:39.00
God has his robe all
around in this fire that
00:13:39.01\00:13:42.51
as the Bible
describes it almost as though
00:13:42.52\00:13:44.54
it's quaking, it's
bubbling as it were
00:13:44.55\00:13:46.83
but it doesn't
consume those who are in the
00:13:47.34\00:13:49.53
presence of God who
are righteous and Lucifer
00:13:49.54\00:13:52.06
had the blessing of
being in the midst of that
00:13:52.07\00:13:54.80
stone and in that
fire and not being consumed
00:13:54.81\00:13:57.70
but now go to verse 16.
00:13:58.08\00:13:59.90
By the multitude
of thy merchandise,
00:14:00.65\00:14:02.86
they have filled the
midst of thee with violence
00:14:03.43\00:14:06.08
and thou has sinned
therefore I will catch
00:14:06.61\00:14:09.59
thee as a
profaned thing out of the
00:14:09.60\00:14:11.84
mountain of God.
I will destroy thee,
00:14:11.85\00:14:14.78
O covering cherub,
from the midst of the
00:14:14.79\00:14:17.46
stones of fire. Now
how is he going to do it?
00:14:17.47\00:14:19.56
Here it is in verse
18 Thou hast defiled thy
00:14:19.95\00:14:23.50
sanctuaries by
the multitude of thine
00:14:23.51\00:14:25.33
iniquities by the
iniquity of thy traffic;
00:14:25.34\00:14:29.28
therefore I will
bring forth a fire from the
00:14:30.11\00:14:33.64
midst of thee, it
shall devour thee,
00:14:33.65\00:14:36.99
and bring thee to
ashes upon the earth
00:14:37.35\00:14:39.61
in the sight of all
them that behold thee.
00:14:40.19\00:14:42.32
Notice it there. Yeah.
Fire, from the midst of
00:14:42.33\00:14:46.98
him, it shall devour
him and the end result
00:14:46.99\00:14:50.47
will be ashes and so
when the Bible talks about
00:14:50.48\00:14:52.96
and I think you read
it in Malachi, the wicked,
00:14:52.97\00:14:55.23
the Bible says it will
leave them neither root
00:14:55.24\00:14:57.37
nor branch. So how
it's gonna there will be
00:14:57.38\00:15:00.57
ashes in the same way
that Lucifer was Satan is
00:15:00.58\00:15:03.95
going to be
destroyed is the same way that
00:15:03.96\00:15:05.96
of his children the
children of the wicked
00:15:05.97\00:15:08.88
one as Jesus says in Matthew
00:15:08.89\00:15:10.38
will also be destroyed.
Well if you go a little
00:15:10.39\00:15:12.80
further into
verse 19 of Ezekiel 28,
00:15:12.81\00:15:15.23
there's another issue
here that I just want to
00:15:15.76\00:15:17.41
touch on. Okay. Is
this all who knew you
00:15:17.42\00:15:20.59
among the peoples
are astonished at you,
00:15:20.60\00:15:22.47
you have become a
horror, and shall be
00:15:22.48\00:15:24.64
no more forever.
That's right. Assumed you
00:15:24.65\00:15:27.08
would say okay,
how to explain this
00:15:27.09\00:15:28.93
because Revelation
14, what we just read said
00:15:28.94\00:15:31.72
that they will
burn or be tormented
00:15:31.73\00:15:33.27
forever and ever.
That's right. And then it says
00:15:33.28\00:15:35.86
in the next verse, so
this other words and several
00:15:35.87\00:15:38.37
others that there
will be no more in fact
00:15:38.38\00:15:40.38
obey die I think the
word is that they will be
00:15:40.39\00:15:42.14
as they had never
been. So how do you reconcile
00:15:42.15\00:15:46.00
burning up and then
saying that their torment,
00:15:47.11\00:15:50.27
their torment
last forever and ever.
00:15:50.28\00:15:52.09
Here's how you do
that. I believe the torment
00:15:52.10\00:15:55.10
that lasts forever and
ever is speaking more of
00:15:55.51\00:15:58.13
the condition of
their punishment or their
00:15:58.14\00:16:00.61
condition during
punishment at the time
00:16:00.62\00:16:03.33
that the the lake
of fire is kindled.
00:16:03.34\00:16:04.81
I believe God is a
just God, do you believe
00:16:06.08\00:16:08.46
God is a just God? Oh! Clearly.
00:16:08.47\00:16:09.95
And so I cannot
imagine nor can most of us
00:16:09.96\00:16:13.51
who live in a court
system at least within
00:16:14.33\00:16:16.04
America that's a do a
Christian kind of a court
00:16:16.05\00:16:18.38
system where you are
punished for the crime
00:16:18.39\00:16:20.49
that you committed
and that punishment
00:16:20.50\00:16:22.69
fix the crime.
Right. So you know if you're
00:16:22.70\00:16:25.21
a thief, you may have to
do probation or community
00:16:25.22\00:16:28.82
service or if you've
been stealing a lot or you
00:16:28.83\00:16:30.70
stole something big,
may be you do a little bit
00:16:30.71\00:16:32.45
of time but if you do
a murder you're talking
00:16:32.46\00:16:35.27
about life time sentence.
Right. You know in most
00:16:35.28\00:16:37.87
states today, so
you know the punishment
00:16:37.88\00:16:40.46
fits the crime. So
what do we deal with here,
00:16:40.47\00:16:42.60
do we say that
someone like a Hitler or a
00:16:42.61\00:16:45.76
Mussuloni or
someone like that who's done
00:16:45.77\00:16:49.05
heinous crimes
against humanity would suffer
00:16:49.06\00:16:53.27
the same penalty.
As a guy who just ran
00:16:53.28\00:16:55.81
into a convenient
store. Yeah, or just yeah
00:16:55.82\00:16:58.23
who stolen some
things, who doesn't really care
00:16:58.24\00:17:00.17
about God,
doesn't believe in God but
00:17:00.18\00:17:02.31
you know dies you
know not really caring
00:17:02.32\00:17:05.14
but in his own
sin. Right. We can't say
00:17:05.59\00:17:09.09
and I can't put my mind
at least around punishment
00:17:09.10\00:17:11.89
the same punishment for both.
00:17:11.90\00:17:13.07
Well the Bible
doesn't even support the same
00:17:13.48\00:17:15.12
punishment for
both, as a matter of fact
00:17:15.13\00:17:16.94
Ecclesiastes
chapter 12 verse 13 and 14,
00:17:17.95\00:17:21.17
it makes it very, very
clear that the judgment
00:17:21.59\00:17:24.98
will be according to the
crime. Yeah, according to
00:17:25.40\00:17:28.15
their works too over
and over even Jesus said
00:17:28.16\00:17:30.75
you're judged
according to your works.
00:17:31.25\00:17:33.40
Exactly, what does
that judgment mean?
00:17:33.41\00:17:34.73
It means the
punishment or the executive
00:17:34.74\00:17:36.65
part of the judgment
being meted out according to
00:17:36.66\00:17:38.77
what you have done
and in Hitler's case
00:17:38.78\00:17:42.10
a much greater
punishment I believe.
00:17:42.49\00:17:44.38
Now when it's speaking
of as you're going there,
00:17:44.79\00:17:46.74
when speaking of
tormented forever and ever
00:17:46.75\00:17:49.60
I believe that is
probably some of the experience
00:17:49.61\00:17:52.70
of those who are being consumed.
00:17:52.71\00:17:57.31
Because to some
degree John we have to
00:17:57.91\00:18:00.69
recognize that, in
there being consumed that
00:18:00.70\00:18:03.00
some will burn more
quickly than others.
00:18:03.01\00:18:04.79
Right. And some say
well I have a problem with
00:18:05.22\00:18:07.85
that because that
makes God a bit of a torturer
00:18:07.86\00:18:10.36
because he keeps
some alive to experience
00:18:10.37\00:18:12.58
punishment enough
to rather than letting
00:18:12.59\00:18:16.65
their complete
mortality just burn them up
00:18:16.66\00:18:18.74
in an instant. Right.
And I will suggest to you
00:18:18.75\00:18:21.20
that there the reason
for that is because God
00:18:21.21\00:18:23.41
is a just God as much
as he is a merciful God.
00:18:23.42\00:18:27.64
There you go, very
well, very well said.
00:18:28.12\00:18:29.09
So we have a mercy
of God but we also have
00:18:29.10\00:18:30.97
the justice of God, if
God did not do it that way.
00:18:30.98\00:18:34.20
He could not be a
just God because there are
00:18:34.21\00:18:37.47
many who are I mean
look at the Fifth Seal
00:18:37.48\00:18:41.52
where it says the
Souls and the Altars
00:18:42.60\00:18:44.19
are crying out to
the God, you know when
00:18:44.20\00:18:45.91
will you avenge our
blood on those who are.
00:18:45.92\00:18:49.23
Dwell on the earth.
Who dwell on the earth,
00:18:49.24\00:18:50.83
those who
prosecute, who killed us,
00:18:50.84\00:18:52.14
who tortured us.
Right. When you are gonna
00:18:52.15\00:18:53.70
avenge us, well that
word avenge is not just
00:18:53.71\00:18:56.97
destroy. Right. It
means pay back. That's right.
00:18:56.98\00:18:59.96
Return meet out a
just punishment for what
00:18:59.97\00:19:02.82
they done to me.
And what does God say
00:19:02.83\00:19:04.85
vengeance is? Is
mine, so this at the end the
00:19:04.86\00:19:08.22
lake of fire is the
vengeance, is the justice
00:19:08.23\00:19:11.19
that he is meeting
out and it isn't just one
00:19:11.20\00:19:13.29
quick boof everybody
is gone, people would be
00:19:13.30\00:19:16.62
administered or
receive the justice that they
00:19:16.63\00:19:19.96
deserve
according to their works.
00:19:19.97\00:19:21.35
I have seen some
court proceeding where the
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.72
judge would say I
wish I have the latitude to
00:19:23.73\00:19:29.05
change the
decision of the court.
00:19:29.06\00:19:30.96
Well my position,
my job is to follow the
00:19:31.81\00:19:34.96
judicial code; therefore
I must follow the justice.
00:19:34.97\00:19:38.95
I must meter out the
justice that this crime
00:19:39.43\00:19:42.15
is due, therefore you
are remanded to in custody
00:19:42.16\00:19:45.89
and to serve a
triple life sentence.
00:19:45.90\00:19:47.96
You know he says those
things and John I always
00:19:47.97\00:19:50.51
said this with tongue
and cheek, even if a guy
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.96
died and came back
here to go right back
00:19:52.97\00:19:54.73
to prison. You know
triple life sentence;
00:19:54.74\00:19:56.95
there is no such things
as a triple life sentence
00:19:56.96\00:19:58.88
but this question
really does warrant
00:19:59.32\00:20:01.52
understanding a
couple of things.
00:20:02.16\00:20:03.49
One God is a just
God; God is a merciful God
00:20:03.50\00:20:06.32
that's what Isaiah
refers to the destruction of
00:20:06.70\00:20:08.61
man is God's strange
act. He doesn't all of a
00:20:08.62\00:20:11.14
sudden have a cork in
his character but when
00:20:11.15\00:20:13.86
sin began, sins runs
its course. Sin has to be
00:20:13.87\00:20:18.48
eradicated and all
those who take their
00:20:18.49\00:20:20.31
stand with it. Can
you imagine a person being
00:20:20.32\00:20:23.06
in heaven that doesn't
want to be there and his
00:20:23.07\00:20:25.95
his whole life is just
as kill, permit a murder
00:20:25.96\00:20:28.51
and lie and steal and
kill and cheat to the most
00:20:28.52\00:20:30.97
intense degree and
he is in heaven because
00:20:30.98\00:20:33.12
you know God just can't
kill people or he's gonna
00:20:33.13\00:20:35.82
be in a new earth and
we have to judge a final
00:20:35.83\00:20:37.74
way keep them out
so will lock our doors
00:20:37.75\00:20:39.47
in the new earth. No,
that's not the justice
00:20:39.48\00:20:41.58
of God, the justice
must fit the punishment
00:20:41.59\00:20:45.33
for the crime and
Revelation 22 verse 12
00:20:45.34\00:20:48.30
behold I am coming
quickly and my reward is
00:20:49.03\00:20:51.89
with me to give
every man according as his
00:20:51.90\00:20:54.33
work shall be. Right.
So what's gonna happen
00:20:54.34\00:20:56.32
to the wicked, here's
the end of the question.
00:20:56.33\00:20:57.73
Psalms 37 verse 10. For
yet a little while and the
00:20:58.19\00:21:02.52
wicked shall be no
more there not going to be
00:21:02.53\00:21:04.68
burning forever and
ever. Indeed you will look
00:21:04.69\00:21:07.18
carefully for his place
but it shall be no more.
00:21:07.19\00:21:11.16
Where as the King James
version says it shall not
00:21:11.33\00:21:13.52
be you look for,
but shall not be.
00:21:13.53\00:21:16.32
So there's not gonna
be any whole in the ground
00:21:16.70\00:21:18.30
somewhere or a lake
in Utah where people
00:21:18.31\00:21:20.25
are still burning.
Right. Now the last piece of
00:21:20.26\00:21:22.94
this because we do need
to wind up the question,
00:21:22.95\00:21:24.53
the very last part of
this is some suggest then
00:21:24.54\00:21:26.64
that, okay I can agree
with the fire coming down
00:21:27.19\00:21:30.06
out of heaven and the
lake that begins to burn
00:21:30.07\00:21:32.89
and consume
those who are wicked.
00:21:32.90\00:21:34.31
But what they have
tried to explain a way
00:21:34.62\00:21:37.61
God's justice in this respect.
00:21:37.62\00:21:39.31
They're trying to
explain a way may be
00:21:40.62\00:21:42.05
some of the torment
that the experience as not
00:21:42.06\00:21:44.52
coming from God himself
but that God steps away.
00:21:44.53\00:21:47.30
In other words He
turns away from them and
00:21:48.33\00:21:50.42
the separation
between them and him and the
00:21:50.43\00:21:52.96
wicked naturally
consumes then the
00:21:52.97\00:21:55.92
wicked are
consumed by the fire that
00:21:55.93\00:21:58.84
has been kindled.
So it's not really God
00:21:58.85\00:22:00.94
intentionally burning
them but he turns their
00:22:00.95\00:22:04.27
back on them. He
walks away from them or
00:22:04.28\00:22:06.25
maybe even his
presence being there consumes
00:22:06.26\00:22:09.11
them naturally,
that's the lake of fire.
00:22:09.12\00:22:10.86
But you know you
read throughout scripture,
00:22:11.37\00:22:13.59
I read a text before
we even kind of began
00:22:14.70\00:22:16.67
our program today
about you know from
00:22:16.68\00:22:17.93
Numbers chapter I
believe it was 16.
00:22:17.94\00:22:19.79
About those who
were burning profaned
00:22:20.16\00:22:22.37
fire before the
Lord. You know they were
00:22:22.38\00:22:24.41
burning incense the way
God didn't instruct them
00:22:24.42\00:22:26.69
they could do
that. And fire came down
00:22:26.70\00:22:29.35
from God it says, He,
fire came down from Him
00:22:29.36\00:22:32.81
and burned them up.
Right. And soon them in
00:22:32.82\00:22:35.50
an instant and so me
that tells me okay has
00:22:35.51\00:22:38.58
God changed his
character? You know what did
00:22:38.59\00:22:41.12
He do it then for his
holiness sake you know,
00:22:41.13\00:22:45.33
his character to
uphold who he is? Or you know,
00:22:45.34\00:22:48.70
when we get to the
end of time somehow
00:22:48.71\00:22:50.07
no he is a
different kind of a God.
00:22:50.08\00:22:52.06
So he is not really
gonna do that, no I believe
00:22:52.07\00:22:53.99
that's a picture
of what's gonna happen
00:22:54.00\00:22:56.66
in the last days that
he will actually kindle the
00:22:56.67\00:22:59.35
fire that begins the
lake and he sends it down.
00:22:59.36\00:23:02.27
And you know what has
happened in the society
00:23:02.76\00:23:06.10
in which we live, we
have this thing called
00:23:06.11\00:23:07.87
political correctness
and so we try to tidy up God.
00:23:07.88\00:23:11.76
That's why you hear
so many sermons that
00:23:12.82\00:23:14.50
don't really talk
about God's judgments.
00:23:14.51\00:23:16.26
Sermons don't talk
about sin and the way it
00:23:16.68\00:23:18.46
should be
preached. Matter of fact laws
00:23:18.47\00:23:20.33
have been passed that
you can preach against
00:23:20.35\00:23:21.82
certain things any
longer. In some places you can't
00:23:21.83\00:23:25.29
speak against
immorality or homosexuality
00:23:25.30\00:23:27.95
or the base sexual
crimes. Or the base sexual
00:23:27.96\00:23:31.73
practices because we
don't want it to be offensive
00:23:31.74\00:23:34.65
and we have this thing
in our society nowadays
00:23:34.66\00:23:36.69
that it all has to be
palatable for the air.
00:23:36.70\00:23:39.23
Well you know,
when you think of the
00:23:39.61\00:23:40.84
crucifixion of Jesus.
He didn't go to the cross
00:23:40.85\00:23:42.97
because it was a nice
deed, He went to the cross
00:23:42.98\00:23:45.44
because He want
there to save us.
00:23:45.45\00:23:46.85
He bore our sins; He was
bruised for our inequity.
00:23:46.86\00:23:50.40
He didn't suffer
this kind whipping in the
00:23:50.82\00:23:53.94
course of pilot;
they didn't supposedly put
00:23:53.95\00:23:57.09
blunt thorns on his
head. You get my point,
00:23:57.70\00:24:00.23
and so when you look
at the torment and the
00:24:00.66\00:24:02.66
torture that Jesus
went through for us.
00:24:02.67\00:24:04.69
Those who do not
accept His deliverance
00:24:05.50\00:24:08.05
and His wounds and
His punishment will face
00:24:08.06\00:24:12.00
that themselves and
that's the justice of God.
00:24:12.01\00:24:14.93
Yeah. You haven't
accepted my deliverance
00:24:14.94\00:24:16.84
therefore you must
now receive the reward of
00:24:16.85\00:24:19.51
your own
punishment of your own sin.
00:24:19.52\00:24:21.41
Anyway. I hope you
feel exhaustedly to
00:24:21.81\00:24:24.64
some degree. Yeah and
that's a, that's a very
00:24:24.65\00:24:26.71
is an intense topic
but one that really warns
00:24:26.72\00:24:29.25
asking the question.
Somebody also wrote a
00:24:30.23\00:24:33.08
question here it says
okay, I know of a pastor
00:24:33.09\00:24:38.56
that keeps the
Sabbath but teaches that you
00:24:38.57\00:24:41.08
cannot keep the Ten
Commandments. Is this true?
00:24:41.09\00:24:44.01
Did I miss
something? He honor, he keeps
00:24:45.37\00:24:49.27
the Sabbath or
commandment but he says
00:24:49.28\00:24:52.33
you can't keep the commandments.
00:24:52.34\00:24:54.20
So he has axed
himself out. Yeah.
00:24:55.04\00:24:57.59
So if your pastors the
one that's teaching just
00:24:57.83\00:24:59.93
tell him what he's
doing is of absolutely no
00:24:59.94\00:25:03.16
value whatsoever
because he is keeping something
00:25:03.17\00:25:05.25
that he said he can't
keep. Well my Bible doesn't
00:25:05.26\00:25:08.25
teach that first of
all let's start with the
00:25:08.26\00:25:09.75
most wonderful text in
the scriptures at least
00:25:09.76\00:25:12.34
in the sense of
God's love. If you love me
00:25:12.35\00:25:14.78
John 14, 15. If you love me,
00:25:14.79\00:25:17.62
keep my commandments.
Philippians 4:13 I can do
00:25:18.03\00:25:22.01
all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
00:25:22.02\00:25:26.43
So the key is not so
much on the human side
00:25:26.44\00:25:29.33
because the children
of Israel, when Moses
00:25:29.34\00:25:31.42
presented the
commandments for them.
00:25:31.43\00:25:32.66
They said all that the
Lord has said, we will do.
00:25:33.75\00:25:37.52
They didn't say all
that the Lord has says
00:25:38.07\00:25:40.44
we will do through
his strength, they said
00:25:40.45\00:25:42.76
all that he has said we
will do and they worked on
00:25:42.77\00:25:45.78
keeping the commandments
of through human effort
00:25:46.34\00:25:48.19
which we know the
story they failed.
00:25:48.20\00:25:50.18
But here are some
scriptures in the Bible
00:25:51.41\00:25:53.12
that does let us
know that the Lord expects
00:25:53.13\00:25:55.58
us to keep His commandments.
00:25:55.59\00:25:57.23
Exodus 16 verse 28 the
Lord says how long do you
00:25:57.62\00:26:00.55
refuse to keep my
commandments, so if they
00:26:00.56\00:26:04.57
refused to keep his
commandments then he is
00:26:04.58\00:26:07.26
suggesting that they
could keep his commandments
00:26:07.27\00:26:10.86
through his
strength. Here's another one
00:26:11.32\00:26:13.35
Exodus 20 verse
6. Showing mercy to
00:26:13.36\00:26:15.99
thousands of those
who love me and keep
00:26:16.00\00:26:20.20
my commandments.
And John you know,
00:26:20.21\00:26:22.55
we very well know that
this is an attempt to get
00:26:22.56\00:26:25.05
rid of the Sabbath
because we can't keep
00:26:25.06\00:26:27.27
the commandments
and I have heard pastor
00:26:27.28\00:26:29.05
say this. You can
jump in anytime but wait.
00:26:29.06\00:26:31.24
Okay, hold on. I
have heard pastor say that
00:26:34.31\00:26:39.06
you can't keep the
commandments, what they
00:26:39.07\00:26:40.69
actually mean is they
are trying to get rid of
00:26:40.70\00:26:42.09
Sabbath the fourth commandment.
00:26:42.10\00:26:43.55
Yeah they don't
have a problem with
00:26:43.56\00:26:44.53
the other ones. But they don't,
00:26:44.54\00:26:45.51
a pastor that says
when you leave church today,
00:26:46.09\00:26:50.37
really restrain
yourself because I know you
00:26:50.38\00:26:51.95
wanna kill your
neighbor. I know you wanna
00:26:51.96\00:26:53.46
commit adultery, I
know you want to lie
00:26:53.47\00:26:54.87
and kill and steal and
cheat. I know you wanna
00:26:54.88\00:26:56.88
God's side just
look up to the sky and
00:26:56.89\00:26:58.32
just curse God with
a blue streak so just
00:26:58.33\00:27:00.76
take it easy. No
that's not while we
00:27:00.77\00:27:03.65
become Christians,
we become Christians
00:27:03.66\00:27:06.45
to take hold of the
power greater than our own.
00:27:07.63\00:27:10.00
That he now works out his
will in us and through us.
00:27:10.82\00:27:13.25
We submitted His
will and as Jesus says not
00:27:13.26\00:27:15.88
my will but thy
will be done and then the
00:27:15.89\00:27:17.85
strength that we
don't have. Right.
00:27:17.86\00:27:19.60
Is the strength that we
receive to live in harmony
00:27:19.61\00:27:21.70
with God's commandments. Yeah.
00:27:21.71\00:27:22.82
The benefit of the
doubt, the only benefit of the
00:27:22.83\00:27:26.23
doubt this whole
situation this question that was
00:27:26.24\00:27:30.07
sent in could be if
the pastor is referring
00:27:30.08\00:27:32.62
to Romans Chapter 7.
Okay. Which says in verse 18,
00:27:32.63\00:27:38.70
For I know that in
me that is, in my flesh
00:27:39.33\00:27:42.44
nothing good dwells;
for to will is present
00:27:42.45\00:27:45.65
with me, in other
words I want him do good
00:27:45.66\00:27:47.04
but how to perform
what was good I do not find.
00:27:47.45\00:27:50.81
Right. So you know,
we in our own strengths.
00:27:50.82\00:27:54.45
Yes. In our own flesh,
in our own power cannot
00:27:54.87\00:27:57.43
keep the law of God.
That's right. If we are
00:27:57.44\00:28:00.08
corner we are sold to
sin, we can't possibly
00:28:00.09\00:28:03.21
perform in its perfection.
Right. But he goes on
00:28:03.22\00:28:07.02
and he says but I don't
live under the law of sin,
00:28:07.03\00:28:10.57
I live under the
law of grace or he says
00:28:10.58\00:28:13.59
under the law of
spirit which is the spirit
00:28:13.60\00:28:17.00
that I walk in is the
one that I actually gets me
00:28:17.01\00:28:19.19
to perform to
keeping of the law.
00:28:19.20\00:28:21.46
So it's not I who do
it any longer its Christ
00:28:21.47\00:28:24.46
who lives in me by
His spirit that he is
00:28:24.47\00:28:27.23
performing the
keeping of the commandments.
00:28:27.24\00:28:29.17
So now if that's the
part. If that's what the pastor
00:28:29.90\00:28:32.45
is talking about we
can agree to some degree
00:28:32.46\00:28:34.23
because I can't
perform upto 100% degree
00:28:35.14\00:28:39.71
in my own flesh to
keeping of the commandments.
00:28:39.72\00:28:41.99
Right. But through
Christ I can do all things
00:28:42.00\00:28:45.45
who strengthens me.
Right and you know the.
00:28:46.10\00:28:48.51
And so yeah. And you
know the text Galatians 2:20
00:28:48.52\00:28:51.85
the key when the
Christian comes to Christ
00:28:52.74\00:28:54.88
he is crucified. I am
crucified with Christ,
00:28:54.89\00:28:57.77
nevertheless now in
the real physical sense
00:28:58.24\00:29:00.73
I live yet not I
but Christ lives in me,
00:29:00.74\00:29:03.79
in the life I now
live in the flesh.
00:29:03.80\00:29:05.60
Live by faith. I live
by faith in the son of God
00:29:06.72\00:29:08.30
who love me and
gave me himself for me.
00:29:08.31\00:29:09.90
So it is no longer I who
li live but Christ who lives
00:29:09.91\00:29:12.66
in me and so now
the one who lives in
00:29:12.67\00:29:14.37
me is the one who is
performing through me.
00:29:14.38\00:29:16.15
Right. These things in
harmony with this world.
00:29:16.16\00:29:18.14
Just to through out
in there. Oh! I got you.
00:29:18.15\00:29:20.20
In case the you
know misunderstanding
00:29:20.21\00:29:21.71
came through. And
truly there those who say
00:29:22.03\00:29:23.56
oh man I have to love
that person, I know there
00:29:23.57\00:29:27.10
are people that
struggle with that and there are
00:29:27.11\00:29:29.19
people that in lots
of sense look at somebody
00:29:29.20\00:29:30.83
and say oh boy you
know, they have these desires
00:29:30.84\00:29:35.28
and fantasies. That's
the kind of world we live in
00:29:35.29\00:29:36.99
and they struggle
with whether or not they
00:29:37.00\00:29:38.96
could live in harmony
with God's commandments
00:29:38.97\00:29:41.00
in all particulars
and they are those who
00:29:41.01\00:29:42.89
don't want to give
God an honest tie and
00:29:42.90\00:29:44.46
so they steal. Well
they put false information
00:29:44.47\00:29:47.91
on the tied envelope and
ceremoniously pass it in.
00:29:47.92\00:29:50.23
when God knows that
the struggle with stealing
00:29:50.75\00:29:52.97
and then those who
just can't tell the truth
00:29:53.43\00:29:55.19
for no matter
what. God knows they have
00:29:55.20\00:29:57.70
a problem with lying
but he says if you take
00:29:57.71\00:29:59.85
hold of my grace
you will see my grace is
00:29:59.86\00:30:01.88
sufficient for
you in your weakness,
00:30:01.89\00:30:04.21
my strength is made
perfect. Anyway, I think
00:30:04.22\00:30:06.97
we have to say segue
into our topic I think
00:30:06.98\00:30:08.47
we need to do that.
If you have any questions
00:30:08.48\00:30:10.63
about what we have
talked about today,
00:30:10.64\00:30:11.72
you can send your
questions and your
00:30:11.73\00:30:13.40
comments to housecalls@3abn.org
00:30:13.41\00:30:16.94
that's housecalls@3abn.org
and we will try our best
00:30:16.95\00:30:20.90
by God's grace to
give you an answer that's
00:30:21.41\00:30:23.60
in harmony with His
scriptures. If we haven't,
00:30:23.61\00:30:25.51
well if you've heard
something that doesn't
00:30:26.34\00:30:28.18
sound right or
you wanna correct us.
00:30:28.19\00:30:29.75
We accept those things
too, we are only human.
00:30:29.76\00:30:32.08
Thank you so much, now
lets dive into the topic
00:30:32.48\00:30:34.78
on relationships,
John every body wants good
00:30:35.27\00:30:39.10
relationship but I have
discovered not everybody
00:30:39.11\00:30:40.86
has a good
relationship. That's right.
00:30:40.87\00:30:42.41
You know we get
questions on relationships
00:30:42.42\00:30:44.72
issue sometimes and
we try to do our best to
00:30:44.73\00:30:47.45
answer those we
have never done a program
00:30:47.46\00:30:48.97
on relationships but
we know that the enemy
00:30:49.43\00:30:53.28
is working very hard
because if we can destroy
00:30:53.29\00:30:55.39
a relationships in the
family between a married
00:30:55.40\00:30:58.31
couple, between
friendships that he can
00:30:58.32\00:31:02.50
ultimately destroy
the relationship with God
00:31:02.51\00:31:04.30
as well well and
it goes the reverse.
00:31:04.31\00:31:05.64
He destroys the
relationship with God,
00:31:05.65\00:31:07.18
he can destroy a
relationship with our
00:31:07.60\00:31:08.99
family, our friends and others.
00:31:09.00\00:31:10.28
So relationships are
huge when it comes to
00:31:10.29\00:31:13.18
the Christian life.
So how can we have a good
00:31:13.19\00:31:16.18
relationship, a healthy
relationship not only with
00:31:16.19\00:31:18.91
God but with our
spouses, with our friends.
00:31:18.92\00:31:23.35
How do we know how,
you know what is the right
00:31:25.04\00:31:26.74
way to date. You
know, how should we date,
00:31:26.75\00:31:29.67
you know I, you
hear these battles daddy
00:31:29.68\00:31:33.51
when will you let me
date, how old do I have
00:31:33.52\00:31:35.27
to be to date. Well,
you know it's about the same
00:31:35.28\00:31:37.50
age for everybody but
you know this is a big deal.
00:31:37.51\00:31:41.84
That's right. And
you know, any father who
00:31:41.85\00:31:44.13
tell his little girl
that's a big deal for her to
00:31:44.14\00:31:46.52
ask him that
question. Let's say 35.
00:31:46.53\00:31:48.24
You know, the answer
is always never you know
00:31:48.25\00:31:50.23
but yeah so let's
talk about relationships
00:31:50.24\00:31:53.45
in the context
of scripture and see
00:31:53.46\00:31:56.28
what's God plan is.
What his design is for
00:31:56.29\00:31:58.37
healthy relationships,
let's start with, let's go
00:31:58.38\00:32:01.36
back to the first
relationship. I think that
00:32:01.37\00:32:03.68
if you think about a
time before they were
00:32:04.29\00:32:06.51
grandmothers
and grandfathers and
00:32:06.52\00:32:08.02
grandchildren and
aunts and uncles and nieces
00:32:08.03\00:32:09.79
and nephews and
extended family and
00:32:09.80\00:32:11.79
second, third
cousins. Let's go back to how
00:32:11.80\00:32:14.32
God established it in
the very beginning and
00:32:14.33\00:32:16.84
thus we dive into
the book of Genesis,
00:32:16.85\00:32:18.66
going back to the
very beginning and we see
00:32:19.02\00:32:21.03
God's greatest gift
the husband and the wife.
00:32:21.04\00:32:24.91
We begin to see God
putting together the
00:32:25.32\00:32:27.86
master plan which
accomplishes a number of
00:32:27.87\00:32:30.54
things shows his
relationships with us and
00:32:30.55\00:32:33.74
his church and it
teaches us to grow in our
00:32:33.75\00:32:36.72
relationship
with one and another.
00:32:36.73\00:32:38.37
Genesis chapter 2,
Genesis chapter 2 and by the way
00:32:38.80\00:32:43.27
Genesis is the
good place to begin is
00:32:43.28\00:32:44.88
book of
beginnings. Genesis chapter 2,
00:32:44.89\00:32:50.35
look at the context of
this we're going to look
00:32:50.84\00:32:56.23
at verse 24, well.
Let's back up a little bit.
00:32:56.24\00:33:00.92
Yeah lets. Let's start with 21.
00:33:00.93\00:33:02.21
Let's start with 21
okay. Do I gonna read that?
00:33:02.66\00:33:06.25
Okay, you go right
ahead. It's 21 on down from
00:33:06.26\00:33:09.79
Genesis 2 and the
Lord God caused the deep
00:33:09.80\00:33:12.60
sleep to fall on Adam
and he slept and he took
00:33:12.61\00:33:16.38
one of his ribs and closed
up the flesh in its place.
00:33:16.39\00:33:19.24
And the rib which
the Lord God had taken it
00:33:19.84\00:33:23.03
from the man he
made into a woman
00:33:23.04\00:33:24.82
and he brought her
to the man and Adam said
00:33:25.27\00:33:28.34
wow! I have
written here mine my margin
00:33:30.08\00:33:33.76
and Adam said wow.
But he is very true
00:33:33.77\00:33:37.31
I am sure Adam didn't say wow.
00:33:37.32\00:33:38.57
Because you know
what John before you read
00:33:38.58\00:33:39.84
the text honestly
friends when you are,
00:33:39.85\00:33:43.10
when you wake up in
the morning and this is
00:33:43.11\00:33:45.86
something we would
never even understand
00:33:45.87\00:33:47.47
the intensity of.
Yeah. Because Adam looked
00:33:47.48\00:33:49.41
around on all the
creation and saw no one for him.
00:33:49.42\00:33:52.20
That's right. And he
probably thought there's
00:33:52.21\00:33:55.70
something missing.
Everybody has, yeah,
00:33:55.71\00:33:59.45
something that fits,
you know. And he is probably
00:33:59.46\00:34:01.12
saying hello, hello
I've been searching for quiet
00:34:01.13\00:34:05.78
sometime Lord did you
forget me and Lord says,
00:34:05.79\00:34:10.04
let's take a nap. Take a nap.
00:34:11.01\00:34:13.20
And he puts a divine
rest on him and he wakes up
00:34:13.21\00:34:15.16
and he's got to
begin by saying wow. Wow.
00:34:15.17\00:34:17.93
Okay go ahead. This is
now Adam goes on to say,
00:34:17.94\00:34:22.50
this is now bone of
my bones and flesh of my
00:34:22.51\00:34:25.47
flesh she shall be
called woman because
00:34:25.48\00:34:29.12
she was taken out
of man. Therefore a man
00:34:29.13\00:34:32.44
shall leave his father
and mother and be joined
00:34:32.45\00:34:35.09
to his wife and they
shall become one flesh.
00:34:35.10\00:34:38.39
In verse 25 key
verse. And they were both
00:34:38.84\00:34:41.06
naked and man and his
wife, the man and his wife
00:34:41.07\00:34:44.27
and were not
ashamed. Isn't that amazing?
00:34:44.28\00:34:47.14
And let me just start
up by saying this you know,
00:34:47.62\00:34:51.04
we live in a naked
loving generation and when you
00:34:51.05\00:34:56.01
follow the story of
the fall of man when Adam
00:34:56.02\00:34:57.66
and Eve fell into sin.
The Bible also counters
00:34:57.67\00:35:01.20
this verse, verse 25
by saying and they were
00:35:01.21\00:35:04.30
both naked and
they were ashamed,
00:35:04.79\00:35:07.03
they even said to God
we were naked and we were
00:35:07.04\00:35:09.72
ashamed and therefore
we hate ourselves. Right.
00:35:09.73\00:35:13.29
If we had never fall
onto sin this nakedness
00:35:13.30\00:35:18.03
in the divine
sense and by the way.
00:35:18.04\00:35:19.72
What it means by that
isn't it have on physical
00:35:19.73\00:35:22.37
clothing but they
were covered by the
00:35:22.38\00:35:23.90
glory of God. Right.
Okay, they weren't like
00:35:23.91\00:35:26.19
walking around like some
nudist colony, that's not
00:35:26.20\00:35:28.88
the way God is. Even
the pictures to pick them,
00:35:28.89\00:35:30.91
right, don't have
the real total concept to
00:35:30.92\00:35:34.13
what they, what they
look like. Right they were
00:35:34.14\00:35:35.74
covered inthe glory of
God. We're not gonna be
00:35:35.75\00:35:38.02
wearing white
robes that have to be dry
00:35:38.03\00:35:40.06
cleaned in heaven
that's the righteousness of God
00:35:40.07\00:35:43.33
that we're gonna be
covered in. As they were
00:35:43.34\00:35:45.02
in the very beginning
but you find here that the
00:35:45.03\00:35:48.05
Lord said this is
beautiful and there was,
00:35:48.06\00:35:50.69
he said I have a wife,
she said I have a husband
00:35:50.70\00:35:54.21
and amazingly how
God even outlined a plan.
00:35:54.69\00:35:59.11
Because keep this
in mind they were no
00:35:59.61\00:36:02.41
father and mother
for Adam to lead, right,
00:36:02.42\00:36:05.02
but he said this
is how it's going to.
00:36:05.66\00:36:06.70
He was setting
forth the principles.
00:36:06.71\00:36:07.68
Setting forth the
principles. You know,
00:36:07.69\00:36:08.93
I have to tell this
story, Rochelle who is
00:36:08.94\00:36:12.77
taught for you know,
11 or 12 years in the
00:36:12.78\00:36:15.10
elementary school
system, she had the story that
00:36:16.00\00:36:19.69
she relayed this is
one young man that was in
00:36:19.70\00:36:22.35
sixth grade and he
didn't. He just didn't want to
00:36:22.36\00:36:25.16
go to heaven and
she couldn't figure out
00:36:25.17\00:36:27.26
why she didn't
want to go to heaven.
00:36:27.27\00:36:29.68
And he was a good
kid, I mean this kid
00:36:30.31\00:36:32.52
he loved Jesus, he
loved I mean his relationship,
00:36:32.53\00:36:36.37
he prayed, he
treated his friends nice,
00:36:36.38\00:36:39.74
his family, honored his
parents but he would just
00:36:39.75\00:36:42.66
get really nervous
when ever they talk about
00:36:42.67\00:36:44.00
heaven, he didn't
wanna go. And so finally
00:36:44.01\00:36:46.51
she asked him
directly, why don't you want to
00:36:46.52\00:36:50.07
go to heaven? And
then she kick him up
00:36:50.08\00:36:54.09
to her after school
one day and he said because
00:36:54.10\00:36:57.21
I don't want to be
naked there in front of
00:36:57.22\00:36:59.01
everybody. That was
the reason. Unbelievable.
00:36:59.02\00:37:02.60
He was so fearful of
being naked, of being
00:37:02.61\00:37:06.05
seen naked. Because he saw this.
00:37:06.06\00:37:07.20
Of course he is
sixth grade, that is a fear
00:37:07.21\00:37:08.69
you know. Yeah. But
he did really grew on his
00:37:08.70\00:37:11.69
mind the thought
that he would have to be
00:37:11.70\00:37:13.44
naked like Adam
and Eve were naked.
00:37:13.45\00:37:14.92
Well she explained to
him that no one's gonna
00:37:14.93\00:37:17.64
see him in the way
that he gets naked here on
00:37:17.65\00:37:20.39
this earth. This is a
totally different thing
00:37:20.40\00:37:22.09
that God is talking
about and he was very
00:37:22.10\00:37:24.45
relieved and then
from then on you know,
00:37:24.46\00:37:26.28
he got to talk about heaven
and he wanted to go there.
00:37:26.29\00:37:28.16
I had to say that
because it's very true,
00:37:28.62\00:37:30.09
we have lost the glory of God.
00:37:30.10\00:37:33.07
That's the best of
all that we experienced.
00:37:33.62\00:37:35.89
Roman's 3:23.
God's glory. For all have
00:37:35.90\00:37:37.57
sinned, and come
short of the glory of God.
00:37:37.58\00:37:39.05
And that part of the
glory was just the way
00:37:39.06\00:37:41.45
that we glowed,
you know. Like we just
00:37:41.46\00:37:45.76
exuded righteousness
and there was a natural glow
00:37:47.16\00:37:51.03
to that and we just
don't have that anymore
00:37:51.04\00:37:53.60
and but we do have
one thing and this is
00:37:54.00\00:37:56.36
where I am
going. We have one thing
00:37:56.37\00:37:57.91
that is meant to
share the glory of God
00:37:57.92\00:37:59.94
and that is husband and wife.
00:37:59.95\00:38:02.76
Is it any wonder
why the devil is trying
00:38:03.81\00:38:06.29
so hard to attack
marriage, when it's the
00:38:06.30\00:38:09.51
first and greatest
gift that God beyond
00:38:09.52\00:38:12.51
life that God gave to
man was a relationship
00:38:12.52\00:38:16.30
with his wife. As a
matter of fact when you
00:38:16.31\00:38:18.57
follow that so
wonderfully said there is no
00:38:18.58\00:38:21.97
heaven on earth
like a marriage could be
00:38:21.98\00:38:25.96
but there is also
no hell on earth like a
00:38:26.41\00:38:29.12
marriage that's not
working right can be.
00:38:29.13\00:38:32.08
Right it's the both.
When you couldn't get
00:38:32.09\00:38:33.57
literally both
experiences intensely,
00:38:33.58\00:38:37.15
if there is a
problem in the home,
00:38:37.66\00:38:39.24
as a matter of fact
you know one of the first
00:38:39.25\00:38:40.79
things that the Lord
did and this is a principle
00:38:40.80\00:38:42.22
I like to start up
with one of the first things
00:38:42.23\00:38:44.16
he did in order for
Adam and Eve to begin
00:38:44.17\00:38:47.07
that he
established a home for them.
00:38:47.59\00:38:49.98
He gave them the
Garden of Eden and I think
00:38:49.99\00:38:51.99
John one of the first
things that we should do
00:38:52.00\00:38:53.49
when Jesus talks about
a man leaving his father
00:38:53.50\00:38:56.45
and mother clinging to his wife.
00:38:56.46\00:38:57.67
You notice he doesn't
say a wife leaving her
00:38:58.30\00:38:59.75
father and mother
clinging at her husband.
00:38:59.76\00:39:01.22
He is not saying
that the wife brings the
00:39:01.72\00:39:03.05
parents with them
but he in essence saying
00:39:03.06\00:39:05.04
the one that sometimes
has the hardest time of
00:39:05.54\00:39:07.29
breaking away may be
is the son that's the
00:39:07.30\00:39:11.71
part of the influence.
But. But the other thing
00:39:11.72\00:39:14.07
it does tell us John
don't miss this part. Okay.
00:39:14.08\00:39:16.34
Is that the man
pursuits, think about it?
00:39:16.35\00:39:20.73
Very good point.
Because today, in today's
00:39:20.74\00:39:22.63
society things have
become so secured and so
00:39:22.64\00:39:25.92
backward that we
have women pursuing men.
00:39:26.51\00:39:30.38
Right. And I will tell
you it's an uncomfortable
00:39:30.94\00:39:33.08
thing for even young
men because we are talking
00:39:33.09\00:39:37.23
about relationships
all through this in there,
00:39:37.24\00:39:38.65
there was a coach
who was coaching his men
00:39:38.66\00:39:40.78
soccer team and he
really had never seen
00:39:40.79\00:39:43.23
this so blatantly, but
there was a talking to the
00:39:43.24\00:39:45.77
guys after practice,
they were sitting there
00:39:45.78\00:39:47.46
about some of the
things that they were trying to
00:39:47.47\00:39:48.94
do for their team to
organize place and so
00:39:48.95\00:39:51.15
forth and it was
wrapping up and there was a
00:39:51.16\00:39:54.59
children squad that was near by.
00:39:54.60\00:39:56.37
They came walking
back and were heading back
00:39:56.38\00:39:58.97
towards the schools,
the men were being dismissed
00:39:58.98\00:40:00.57
and the girls this
coach couldn't believe
00:40:00.98\00:40:03.53
how direct and
forward these girls were being
00:40:03.97\00:40:06.76
with regard to the
men and as he observed the
00:40:07.31\00:40:09.79
men, the boys.
He saw they were so
00:40:09.80\00:40:13.39
uncomfortable that
they just didn't know
00:40:13.40\00:40:18.00
how to respond to a
degree and what he told
00:40:18.01\00:40:22.13
him was is that this
society has become so
00:40:22.14\00:40:24.48
backward that women
are now pursuing men
00:40:24.49\00:40:27.31
to the degree that
never designed by God
00:40:28.52\00:40:31.56
from the
beginning. Yeah. It was always
00:40:31.57\00:40:33.36
designed the man
would look for his wife
00:40:33.37\00:40:35.88
find her and then
would they create a life
00:40:36.42\00:40:39.44
together. The woman
wasn't out leaving her
00:40:39.45\00:40:41.85
family looking
for spouse. Right.
00:40:42.85\00:40:45.03
Man was looking for
her. That's right in some
00:40:45.04\00:40:47.00
countries this
concept of arranged marriage
00:40:47.01\00:40:51.83
was something so
secret to that society because
00:40:52.85\00:40:55.04
they wanted to make
sure that they maintain
00:40:55.05\00:40:56.53
the integrity of the
family and having their wife,
00:40:56.98\00:40:59.43
having the daughter
being labeled as she is
00:40:59.44\00:41:02.49
out looking for man.
Yeah, she is disgracing
00:41:02.50\00:41:04.52
the family some how to do that.
00:41:04.53\00:41:05.91
And you know
that's the beauty so many
00:41:05.92\00:41:08.51
doors could be
opened there but one of the
00:41:08.52\00:41:10.10
first things that the
Lord did was He established
00:41:10.11\00:41:11.77
a home for Adam and
Eve and truly establishing
00:41:11.78\00:41:16.24
a home for husband
and wife is one of the
00:41:16.25\00:41:18.94
first things that
God ordained for us to do
00:41:18.95\00:41:20.75
to be able to have a
relationship that gets off
00:41:20.76\00:41:24.25
to the right start
not may be an apartment,
00:41:25.11\00:41:27.16
you know may be a
small place, it could be a
00:41:27.61\00:41:29.32
huge mansion or
anything in between but
00:41:29.33\00:41:32.17
I think the song I had
some idea of that concept
00:41:32.62\00:41:36.17
when it says God bless
the child who has his home.
00:41:36.18\00:41:38.80
Yeah, and it does
really make a difference.
00:41:38.81\00:41:40.79
Now what are some
of the foundations that
00:41:40.80\00:41:43.84
we can lay the
principle obviously we talked
00:41:43.85\00:41:47.33
about that the man
will leave his father and
00:41:47.34\00:41:50.23
mother and cling to
his wife, but what are
00:41:50.24\00:41:52.20
some other principles
then we can go through
00:41:52.21\00:41:54.41
as they try to
establish or begin the courtship
00:41:54.94\00:41:57.74
process and establish a
relationship that becomes
00:41:57.75\00:42:01.70
healthy so they're
not just clinging to each
00:42:01.71\00:42:03.73
other desperate to just
survive but it flourishes.
00:42:03.74\00:42:06.80
You know a relationship
in marriage that flourishes,
00:42:06.81\00:42:08.91
no one wants just a
marriage, they want a
00:42:08.92\00:42:10.50
great marriage.
Right. And there are lot of
00:42:10.51\00:42:12.98
bad marriages, so
what do we need to look
00:42:12.99\00:42:15.57
for when we're out
there or for young people
00:42:15.58\00:42:19.41
that are out there
that want a great marriage.
00:42:19.42\00:42:21.97
You know, relationships
have so many different
00:42:22.92\00:42:24.80
categories and I
just include this on this
00:42:24.81\00:42:27.38
program I don't
talk about it a lot but
00:42:27.39\00:42:29.40
I have been a marriage
counselor for more than
00:42:29.41\00:42:31.12
20 years now and I
have counseled with couples
00:42:31.13\00:42:33.66
that had all kinds of
various challenges and
00:42:34.25\00:42:36.87
very few people are
aware of the fact that
00:42:36.88\00:42:39.06
marriages have a lot
more to do with then just
00:42:39.64\00:42:41.72
religious convictions
because they are people
00:42:41.73\00:42:44.39
that can be of the
same religious persuasion
00:42:44.40\00:42:46.50
but be so unequal in
their concept of how to
00:42:46.51\00:42:49.24
spend money, in
their concept of conflict
00:42:49.25\00:42:51.66
resolution and their
concept of communication
00:42:51.67\00:42:54.32
and financial
management and their concept of
00:42:54.77\00:42:56.89
how to raise children
and many of us are our
00:42:56.90\00:43:01.05
view points are
developed first of all
00:43:01.06\00:43:03.18
from our parents. What we see.
00:43:03.19\00:43:04.69
Now praise God if
you come from a home
00:43:05.20\00:43:06.57
where you have a mom
and dad that stay together
00:43:06.58\00:43:08.33
all their lives you
can get the picture of that
00:43:08.34\00:43:11.48
no matter what
they went through,
00:43:11.49\00:43:12.57
they made it through
and they lived 35 years,
00:43:13.00\00:43:15.80
40 years together but
then on the flip side of
00:43:15.81\00:43:17.79
that you come from
some homes where the mother
00:43:17.80\00:43:20.02
was either left or
the father was not there.
00:43:20.03\00:43:23.19
It's a single parent
home and many women today
00:43:23.63\00:43:26.20
are the mother and the
father of the household.
00:43:26.62\00:43:29.10
So all those concept to
shape, all those the way
00:43:29.51\00:43:32.35
we do house, the way
that we do family is often
00:43:32.36\00:43:35.61
shaped by what we see
and that's the sad reality.
00:43:35.62\00:43:38.65
Yeah. So I always say
that's why in our church
00:43:38.66\00:43:41.86
and you know this John
as Seventh-day Adventist
00:43:41.87\00:43:44.30
Pastors we are
counseled not to marry anyone
00:43:44.31\00:43:47.03
unless we put
them through counseling
00:43:47.04\00:43:50.27
because the concept
you know, the feeling
00:43:51.16\00:43:54.60
when you first meet
the person you are just
00:43:54.61\00:43:55.92
head over the heels
are and we call that,
00:43:55.93\00:43:58.34
we call that, I am
using a phrase here that's
00:43:58.79\00:44:02.45
kind, we call that
over loaded infatuation.
00:44:02.46\00:44:06.14
Because we really
haven't gone to the
00:44:06.71\00:44:08.10
place of love. You
know that's a good word
00:44:08.11\00:44:09.87
that you bring up because
we have to talk about it,
00:44:09.88\00:44:13.09
infatuation. Yeah.
Infatuation is a strong
00:44:13.10\00:44:15.76
emotion. Yeah.
It's a driving emotion,
00:44:15.77\00:44:18.50
it really is
something that goes beyond
00:44:18.51\00:44:22.32
the way you think.
Right. It is an emotional thing
00:44:22.81\00:44:26.22
it turns all the
senses, you know just on
00:44:26.23\00:44:29.30
their ends and so you
know I think one of the
00:44:29.31\00:44:32.32
first things when
we're looking at maybe
00:44:32.33\00:44:34.62
wanting to have a
wife or a husband is that
00:44:34.63\00:44:38.01
we got to be careful
to know what infatuation
00:44:38.02\00:44:40.19
is and the difference
between that and love.
00:44:40.20\00:44:41.98
Right. Because infatuation
is more about feeling.
00:44:41.99\00:44:46.69
Right. And following
those feelings where love is
00:44:46.70\00:44:49.61
more about the mind.
Right, you're thinking
00:44:49.62\00:44:51.32
with your eyes. Right,
right, and so talk about
00:44:51.33\00:44:54.62
some of the differences
between you know love,
00:44:54.63\00:44:56.62
true love and
infatuation I know that
00:44:56.63\00:44:58.19
there is a book
that was out Gary Smalley
00:44:58.20\00:45:00.04
years ago, one of the
first ones Love is a decision.
00:45:00.05\00:45:03.00
Right. And a very
good book talking about
00:45:03.45\00:45:05.87
when you commit
to love somebody,
00:45:05.88\00:45:07.14
you're committing to
love not the way they
00:45:07.61\00:45:09.46
look but love them in
every aspect and that's
00:45:09.47\00:45:12.30
why I think you
do counseling because
00:45:12.31\00:45:13.88
you're trying to help
them come together to love
00:45:13.89\00:45:16.68
on different levels
than just may be how they
00:45:17.23\00:45:19.54
look or how they feel
when they are together.
00:45:19.55\00:45:21.14
Relationships are
like if you think of,
00:45:22.31\00:45:24.88
you know those snaps
that you put together,
00:45:26.20\00:45:28.70
they look like
snap. There is a young man
00:45:29.78\00:45:33.63
who was just
telling me this few days ago
00:45:33.64\00:45:35.23
they had a pup
tent, those military tents
00:45:35.24\00:45:37.85
that one soldier
carries the one half
00:45:38.42\00:45:40.75
and the other soldier
carries the other half
00:45:40.76\00:45:42.58
and in order to use
it they have to snap it
00:45:42.99\00:45:44.56
together. Okay, well
those snaps represents
00:45:44.57\00:45:48.05
a strong points or weak
points in a relationship.
00:45:48.52\00:45:51.57
If a snap is not working
then that's a weak point.
00:45:51.58\00:45:54.33
That tent is not going
to beheld together and so
00:45:54.34\00:45:56.13
in all those particular
areas, yes religious views
00:45:56.14\00:45:59.56
being a very strong
one but not te only one
00:45:59.57\00:46:02.47
but you can't leave
that one out you have these
00:46:02.81\00:46:04.75
necessities if you leave
out God in a relationship
00:46:04.76\00:46:08.41
how can a marriage be
held together without God
00:46:08.42\00:46:12.67
when God is the one
who ordained marriage.
00:46:13.03\00:46:15.23
You see, so to say
that I have a great marriage
00:46:15.65\00:46:17.97
but I am not a
Christian. It's almost to live
00:46:17.98\00:46:20.38
in an area where
your marriage is being
00:46:20.39\00:46:22.44
held together by
materialism or by
00:46:22.45\00:46:25.00
corner things and then
as time goes on you begin
00:46:25.01\00:46:27.90
to see as you get
older. How futile it was
00:46:27.91\00:46:29.99
and how much obvious
things now really haven't
00:46:30.00\00:46:32.68
brought lasting
blessings but the beauty of a
00:46:32.69\00:46:35.29
Christian is we can get
older and gravity starts
00:46:35.30\00:46:37.71
taking over you know,
we start looking different,
00:46:37.72\00:46:40.06
we hear less, we
need better glasses.
00:46:40.07\00:46:42.83
You know, all
those muscles now started
00:46:42.84\00:46:44.80
turning into flab and
this is just terrible reality
00:46:44.81\00:46:48.50
of life but to get to
that 50th anniversary of God
00:46:48.51\00:46:52.21
gives you that many
years together and then
00:46:52.22\00:46:54.61
you just start so
deeply in love with each other
00:46:54.62\00:46:56.67
that you have
something that you know,
00:46:57.15\00:46:58.27
you look forward to
the Lord coming that can
00:46:58.28\00:47:00.33
continue in heaven.
You know what, the question
00:47:00.34\00:47:02.71
is asked, can you
marry your best friend
00:47:02.72\00:47:05.57
and be happy, have
a successful marriage.
00:47:06.04\00:47:08.68
You know, is that
possible or you know,
00:47:09.70\00:47:12.71
how do you blend the
infatuation with a love
00:47:13.12\00:47:15.97
because there's got to
be some affection I mean
00:47:15.98\00:47:18.08
you've got to have
someone has to be attractive.
00:47:18.09\00:47:19.85
Right. You know, so
there is God to have
00:47:19.86\00:47:21.76
kind of both of these
things but I think God
00:47:21.77\00:47:24.27
created emotions but
he also created our mind
00:47:24.28\00:47:27.67
to think with. And so
it seems like there's got
00:47:27.68\00:47:30.01
to be a blending
of both. Alright.
00:47:30.02\00:47:32.66
Okay, so I am
attracted to this person,
00:47:32.67\00:47:34.71
I have feelings for
this person, I would like to
00:47:34.72\00:47:36.37
I love it when we
touch, when we hold hands
00:47:36.81\00:47:38.68
but now I've got to
think is this kind of,
00:47:39.48\00:47:41.75
is this a person that
I want to spend my life
00:47:41.76\00:47:43.74
with that I can
spend my life with.
00:47:43.75\00:47:45.43
How do they think,
how do they believe when
00:47:45.44\00:47:47.98
it comes to their
spiritual life, you know.
00:47:47.99\00:47:49.91
They believe in
God the way that I do,
00:47:50.26\00:47:51.67
do they spend
money or think of money
00:47:52.89\00:47:56.16
in the same way or
they. If they're the spender
00:47:56.17\00:47:58.05
and I believe in
saving constantly.
00:47:58.41\00:48:00.51
There's going to be a
level of frustration that
00:48:00.89\00:48:02.25
goes on in that
family. Yeah, you have to have
00:48:02.26\00:48:03.85
views. And so there is
different kinds of things,
00:48:03.86\00:48:06.69
culture comes into it.
You know where someone's
00:48:06.70\00:48:08.95
culture we have
these male older brides.
00:48:08.96\00:48:11.36
We heard of that
before where you know here are
00:48:11.37\00:48:13.36
some people
available from another country
00:48:13.37\00:48:14.98
and so some will go over
and marry someone without
00:48:14.99\00:48:17.31
even meeting them
expecting just to put
00:48:17.32\00:48:19.25
together marriage which
I think is it's can be a
00:48:19.26\00:48:21.91
recipe can be a
recipe for disaster.
00:48:21.92\00:48:24.18
I heard somebody
once saying about those
00:48:24.19\00:48:25.72
male older brides
that don't worry you will
00:48:25.73\00:48:27.35
learn to love him,
don't worry you will learn to
00:48:27.36\00:48:29.10
love her but let's go
ahead and combine with
00:48:29.11\00:48:32.67
what I think he
interpreted, here is the
00:48:33.13\00:48:34.51
word infatuation.
Let's talk about that as the
00:48:34.52\00:48:36.71
spark. Yeah. The
thing that kind of says.
00:48:36.72\00:48:38.75
Affection. The
affection like you see a man or
00:48:38.76\00:48:41.14
you see a woman,
you say the young lady
00:48:41.15\00:48:43.44
will say wow he is
so attractive and the
00:48:43.45\00:48:46.35
young man will say
wow she is so pretty
00:48:46.36\00:48:48.21
and you know, the
way she does her hair,
00:48:48.62\00:48:50.62
her perfume and all
that and you know everything
00:48:50.63\00:48:52.55
about her just
really makes this young man
00:48:52.56\00:48:54.70
excited or makes
this young woman excited.
00:48:54.71\00:48:56.76
Well, think of a
relationship like you
00:48:57.18\00:48:58.70
would a very
huge candle or what,
00:48:58.71\00:49:02.32
look at that I just
happened to have a candle
00:49:02.76\00:49:04.42
right next to me.
Okay, now look at that wick.
00:49:04.43\00:49:07.29
You can't really see up
but that wick is so small
00:49:07.71\00:49:10.24
compared to the candle
itself. Let's think of this,
00:49:10.71\00:49:14.19
I see here oh that
gets my fire going see that
00:49:15.32\00:49:19.29
wick starts if there is
no fire the candle cannot
00:49:19.30\00:49:23.44
do what it's
design to do. You see,
00:49:23.96\00:49:26.72
the candle pats the
wick so that it doesn't burn
00:49:26.73\00:49:30.16
out that's the real
purpose of this wax.
00:49:30.17\00:49:33.12
It pads the wick so
that it doesn't burn out.
00:49:33.13\00:49:36.06
It slow burns so let's
look at this candle as a
00:49:36.43\00:49:39.36
thirty year relationship.
God gives them thirty
00:49:39.37\00:49:42.37
years together, you
know one spouse passes away,
00:49:42.38\00:49:44.58
the other does and if you
didn't have the patting of
00:49:44.59\00:49:47.65
love and commitment
that's solid then this
00:49:47.66\00:49:52.58
flimsy wick will
get started and burn out
00:49:52.59\00:49:54.86
in the matter of seconds. Yeah.
00:49:54.87\00:49:56.54
And so lot of people
if you think that all
00:49:56.55\00:49:58.26
that relationship
is getting it started,
00:49:58.27\00:50:00.86
then you fail to
realize that the principles of
00:50:01.36\00:50:03.45
Godly love and
commitment and supporting
00:50:03.46\00:50:06.92
each other and loving
each other and all those
00:50:06.93\00:50:09.00
views that I talked
about which don't have
00:50:09.01\00:50:10.59
all the time to do
now which I'd love to do,
00:50:10.60\00:50:12.51
you know bring these
principles out in the
00:50:12.88\00:50:14.42
following program.
When you establish something
00:50:14.43\00:50:16.83
that spot gets
going but you know it
00:50:17.25\00:50:19.01
only takes its
spot to get a fire going
00:50:19.02\00:50:20.55
and if nothing is
patting that it will burn up
00:50:20.88\00:50:22.80
all you have in
matter of time and that's
00:50:22.81\00:50:25.21
the problem
with our world today.
00:50:25.22\00:50:26.46
No commitment
at the other areas.
00:50:26.47\00:50:27.78
It get started
quickly and ends quickly.
00:50:28.22\00:50:29.96
I think most
successful marriages, marriages
00:50:30.31\00:50:33.20
that stay that the
love really continues to
00:50:33.21\00:50:35.36
burn throughout their
life especially when they
00:50:35.37\00:50:37.38
get older, if you
ask them about what made
00:50:37.39\00:50:39.45
their marriages success,
can you talk a little bit
00:50:39.46\00:50:41.71
about how their marriage began.
00:50:41.72\00:50:43.49
I think All of them
will follow very similar
00:50:43.83\00:50:46.04
lines of thought
which is this, you know
00:50:46.05\00:50:48.04
that the foundation
that's around that wick
00:50:48.05\00:50:50.52
but the wick's you
know it's first lighted
00:50:50.85\00:50:52.85
and that's what
comes first. The affection,
00:50:53.25\00:50:55.16
the emotions but
as those as that wick
00:50:55.17\00:50:58.85
began to burn, you
had everything around it.
00:50:58.86\00:51:01.95
The foundation, the
stuff that you had that
00:51:01.96\00:51:03.47
created a mind
to love someone and
00:51:03.48\00:51:06.63
commit to somebody.
You had there that was
00:51:06.64\00:51:08.86
part of it, I've
heard over and over again
00:51:08.87\00:51:11.25
John that in this is
from various, you know
00:51:11.26\00:51:14.74
various relationships
that passion that they
00:51:14.75\00:51:19.81
had when they
got married is gone.
00:51:19.82\00:51:22.31
So therefore they need a
divorce. Yeah some people
00:51:23.62\00:51:26.80
say it often. So
I just don't feel,
00:51:26.81\00:51:28.62
I am not in love
with him anymore,
00:51:28.63\00:51:30.50
what they're really
talking about is not love,
00:51:30.51\00:51:32.33
they are talking
about infatuation. Right.
00:51:32.34\00:51:34.06
I am not infatuated
with this one anymore
00:51:34.07\00:51:36.14
so I don't feel the
love and that's usually
00:51:36.15\00:51:39.95
comes as a
result of no foundation,
00:51:39.96\00:51:41.95
no true understanding
of what a marriage is
00:51:41.96\00:51:45.60
built on. And so, so
many today and you see
00:51:45.61\00:51:49.02
in the tabloids are
getting married because
00:51:49.03\00:51:50.65
so and so looks
good. Right. Feel good,
00:51:50.66\00:51:54.07
they smell good, all
those, the senses rather
00:51:54.08\00:51:56.74
than putting other
things together that,
00:51:56.75\00:51:58.68
that will make that
relationship last for a
00:51:59.15\00:52:01.42
long, long time. One of
the principles I like to
00:52:01.43\00:52:04.14
put in that is first
of all when you get a
00:52:04.15\00:52:05.63
marriage going, when
you get started remember
00:52:05.64\00:52:07.41
that, let me just read
Matthew 19 and the verse 5
00:52:07.42\00:52:12.87
here says for this
reason a man shall leave
00:52:12.88\00:52:16.90
his father and mother
and be joined to his wife
00:52:16.91\00:52:18.83
and the two
shall become one flesh.
00:52:18.84\00:52:20.63
So then they are
no longer two but one
00:52:21.32\00:52:25.01
therefore what God
has joined together let no
00:52:25.41\00:52:27.77
man separate or
put this under as the
00:52:27.78\00:52:30.50
King James Version
says. First of all we have
00:52:30.51\00:52:32.83
to ask God is he the
one putting us together?
00:52:32.84\00:52:37.26
Lot of people
don't pray, they you know
00:52:38.12\00:52:40.83
go on emotion and
hormones and some people
00:52:40.84\00:52:43.70
get married because
they think we could do really
00:52:43.71\00:52:45.74
well, you have a great salary,
00:52:45.75\00:52:46.83
I have a great
salary. We get good house,
00:52:46.84\00:52:48.29
when all those
ethereal things evaporate in the
00:52:48.65\00:52:51.59
flame of trials then
you think as one person
00:52:51.60\00:52:55.87
says or one man said
to his wife I don't know
00:52:55.88\00:52:58.76
why you are not
happy, I buy everything
00:52:58.77\00:53:00.33
you ask for. Well
if marriage was put
00:53:00.34\00:53:02.82
together by money
then she has no reason to
00:53:02.83\00:53:06.13
complain another one
she says well I don't know
00:53:06.14\00:53:09.50
why he is unhappy. I
cook for him everyday,
00:53:09.51\00:53:10.99
well if food was the
only reason for marriage
00:53:11.00\00:53:13.05
then go to the
food store, don't do the
00:53:13.06\00:53:15.64
expensive mistake
of marrying a woman
00:53:16.10\00:53:17.80
just for food. You
see, so its not that,
00:53:17.81\00:53:20.26
it has to be God has
to be at the center of
00:53:20.27\00:53:22.65
their relationship
and if you are not growing
00:53:22.66\00:53:24.55
in Christ then all
those things are just air
00:53:24.56\00:53:27.47
marks that are like
you know, that it's kind of
00:53:27.48\00:53:30.08
like the tape on
a CD when you buy,
00:53:30.09\00:53:32.36
you just rip it off
and you discard it. Right.
00:53:32.37\00:53:35.03
And what do you
like the music or not is
00:53:35.44\00:53:37.71
left to be seen.
Yeah. Because you are not
00:53:37.72\00:53:39.70
committed to the
product. And other thing too
00:53:39.71\00:53:41.16
is that I think many
see marriage as I have
00:53:41.17\00:53:43.43
achieved rather
than marriage being the
00:53:43.44\00:53:45.44
beginning of the
journey. There you go,
00:53:45.45\00:53:46.93
very good point.
Marriage is the beginning
00:53:46.94\00:53:48.12
of the journey when
you are finally after
00:53:48.13\00:53:49.97
courtship after showing
and sharing your thoughts
00:53:49.98\00:53:54.28
about wanting to
live together forever.
00:53:54.29\00:53:56.45
Once you finally
actually commit to each other
00:53:56.46\00:53:58.30
in a marriage ceremony
and you go home to live
00:53:58.31\00:54:00.96
that is the beginning
of the journey and you
00:54:01.37\00:54:03.80
courtship cannot
stop then. You've got to
00:54:03.81\00:54:06.37
continue do the
things that you had done
00:54:06.38\00:54:08.70
initially for each
other to win each other's
00:54:09.08\00:54:12.05
affections and
confidence and love.
00:54:12.59\00:54:14.89
And I think so
many times John we have
00:54:15.35\00:54:17.45
seen that
marriages are falling apart
00:54:17.46\00:54:20.68
and they are fighting
and so forth they have
00:54:20.69\00:54:22.59
lost that
courtship. They have lost that
00:54:22.60\00:54:24.95
journey perspective
of their marriage and
00:54:24.96\00:54:28.17
those those
things that they had done
00:54:28.18\00:54:29.76
before marriage to
win someone just aren't
00:54:29.77\00:54:33.03
there anymore they
are not doing those things
00:54:33.04\00:54:34.78
and things just fall
apart. Yeah people tend to
00:54:34.79\00:54:37.58
start things and
don't commit to a
00:54:37.59\00:54:39.43
particular goal.
Let's use a journey,
00:54:39.44\00:54:41.90
like the illustration
of a journey, when my wife
00:54:41.91\00:54:44.75
and I drove from
Orlando, Florida to
00:54:44.76\00:54:46.68
Nothern California
for the first time,
00:54:46.69\00:54:48.69
we had never done
that before, we had no idea
00:54:49.46\00:54:52.53
what we were up
against. We did not know
00:54:52.54\00:54:54.96
that the temperature in
the high desert of Texas
00:54:54.97\00:54:57.62
was gonna be very
cold but in the lower
00:54:57.63\00:54:59.81
desert of Texas very
hot. We didn't understand
00:54:59.82\00:55:02.64
what it meant to
drive up the great wine in
00:55:02.65\00:55:05.30
California, you know
about the great wine.
00:55:05.31\00:55:07.03
And understand there
was packed vehicle and the
00:55:07.93\00:55:09.80
air conditioning,
you can over heat.
00:55:09.81\00:55:11.78
We did not know we
wanna go through it
00:55:12.43\00:55:13.67
was that part of
desert in South desert
00:55:14.66\00:55:17.55
highway 10 like,
yeah, you know where the
00:55:17.56\00:55:20.85
sign says turn
your air condition off,
00:55:20.86\00:55:22.90
you will over heat.
Yeah. You know that was
00:55:22.91\00:55:25.42
older car, nowadays
much better and so we
00:55:25.43\00:55:27.87
didn't know that we
would face cold nights,
00:55:27.88\00:55:29.62
hot days. We did not
know that we would be
00:55:30.09\00:55:33.74
facing adverse
circumstances and the
00:55:33.75\00:55:35.96
joke of the the whole
thing is when we began
00:55:35.97\00:55:38.89
before we left
Florida and as we stepped in a
00:55:38.90\00:55:41.38
whole nest of ants.
Her foot was covered with
00:55:41.39\00:55:44.53
ants, so some
journey is don't always begin
00:55:44.54\00:55:46.87
the best but we
made it by God's grace
00:55:46.88\00:55:49.06
and you know the
key I would like to add
00:55:49.46\00:55:50.72
this because our
program is coming to an end.
00:55:50.73\00:55:52.69
We gonna lay some
foundation and thankfully
00:55:52.70\00:55:54.84
we're gonna cover some
more detail scriptures.
00:55:54.85\00:55:56.54
Yeah. In the next
program but it says
00:55:56.55\00:55:58.65
Philippians 4:6
here's one of the things.
00:55:58.66\00:56:01.18
Be anxious for
nothing, plan out your journey
00:56:01.56\00:56:05.75
don't just be
googly eyes and goblin gook
00:56:06.16\00:56:08.78
and say I love her,
she loves me, I am happy.
00:56:08.79\00:56:11.53
Our love will keep us
together. Our love will
00:56:11.54\00:56:13.55
keep us good.
Well, those bills show up
00:56:13.56\00:56:15.01
you can send a
love note in the mail.
00:56:15.44\00:56:17.90
And you when you
woke up, when you wake up
00:56:17.91\00:56:20.61
together and you look
over each other for the
00:56:20.62\00:56:23.21
500th time. That's
right. That emotion,
00:56:24.15\00:56:28.21
that passion, that
wow, I am sorry it's gonna
00:56:28.22\00:56:32.39
go away. It's
gonna break because you
00:56:32.40\00:56:34.08
gonna say it's the same person.
00:56:34.09\00:56:35.51
So you have to have
more than just these
00:56:35.93\00:56:37.41
external things. Your
love goes much deeper,
00:56:37.42\00:56:39.02
yes. Be anxious for
nothing Philippians 4:6
00:56:39.03\00:56:41.41
but in everything by
prayer and supplication
00:56:41.77\00:56:44.87
with thanksgiving
let your request be made
00:56:44.88\00:56:47.65
known to God and
the peace of God which
00:56:47.66\00:56:49.52
surpasses all
understanding, will guard
00:56:49.53\00:56:51.89
your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus
00:56:51.90\00:56:56.04
that's the way you
begin a relationship.
00:56:56.05\00:56:57.30
Pray a lot, ladies,
pray a lot, young men pray
00:56:57.31\00:56:59.83
a lot don't rush.
Yeah when they can pray
00:56:59.84\00:57:02.02
Lord if this is
meant to be then Lord I am
00:57:02.48\00:57:05.48
with you on the
ride but if it's not
00:57:05.49\00:57:07.20
then end it, when
you can pray if it's not
00:57:07.21\00:57:10.61
end it and give
God permission then I'd
00:57:10.62\00:57:12.98
say say you will
be getting to open up
00:57:12.99\00:57:14.13
your mind to what
God want you to give
00:57:14.14\00:57:15.58
in a marriage. It's
better to cry now then to
00:57:15.59\00:57:17.83
cry later. Cry now
and get over it but
00:57:17.84\00:57:20.67
you'll be sorry if
you way to years down
00:57:20.68\00:57:22.84
the road to cry.
So anyway as you know
00:57:22.85\00:57:25.03
we believe that
the commitment that you
00:57:25.04\00:57:26.56
make in Christ is
what makes the difference.
00:57:26.57\00:57:28.54
So commit your life
to Lord Jesus Christ
00:57:28.83\00:57:30.93
today and have a
great day in Him.
00:57:30.94\00:57:33.09